Seahawks vs. Cardinals game thread
Sunday, November 15, 2009 | 1:12 pm
Just a couple moments from kickoff here in Glendale. The stakes couldn't be much higher for the Seahawks today. Win and they're a game back of Arizona, lose and they're three games back, which is more than they can realistically hope to overcome.
Seattle won the toss and will start with the ball. The Seahawks have started games terribly this season, so getting points out of this drive would be huge.
A better start so far
Seattle is driving, and is two-for-two on third down after going 0-for-11 against the Cardinals in their last meeting.
Also, Julius Jones has 10 yards on two carries. The Seahawks managed just 14 rushing yards, a franchise low, against Arizona last month.
Hawks punt, but get it right back
Matt Hasselbeck was sacked, setting up a drive-killing 3rd-and-19. Greg Knapp tried to channel Mike Holmgren there with a 3rd-and-long draw, but Justin Forsett came up five yards short.
The good news for Seattle, however, is that they forced a three-and-out, and are about to start with the ball at their 27-yard line. Not quite the fast start Seattle wanted, but definitely not the disaster they had last week against Detroit and last month against Arizona, when they were down 14-0 before the offense took the field.
More punting, Jones injured
Since I last checked in, the Seahawks had a three-and-out, then Arizona was stopped after picking up one first down. Ben Graham's punt was downed at the one as Nate Burleson did his best Justin Forsett impression by making a bad decision on a punt (in this case letting it bounce around the 12-yard line.
And speaking of Forsett, he's on the field to start this series. It was just announced in the press box that Julius Jones has a chest injury and his return is questionable. If he can't return, that will mean some carries for Louis Rankin today.
Seahawks go three-and-out again
Yet so far, this quarter has been an big success for the Seahawks. I mean they haven't turned it over, they're not down 17-0. Three punts and two first downs? Great success.
That could change soon though; the Cardinals will start this drive at their 46-yard line.
And speaking of punting. . . one of the many strange things I heard out of Tyrone Willingham in two years of covering the Huskies was that he was looking forward to seeing some "Exciting punting" out of UW punter Jared Ballman, who was struggling at the time. Well if Willingham is a fan of exciting punting, I hope he's watching this game with five punts in the first quarter so far.
Seahawks get the ball back. . . No they don't. . . Wait, yes they do
After a pass interference call on Josh Wilson gave the Cardinals first-and-goal, it looked like Arizona was poised to take the lead, but the defense, which thought it had a turnover, came through instead with a fourth-down stop.
Kurt Warner threw a pass in the end zone that was initially ruled a Marcus Trufant interception, but overturned. On fourth-and-goal from the one, the Cardinals went for it, and Marcus Trufant and Leroy Hill--both players who missed the last game against Arizona--teamed up for the stop.
Seahawks have 99 problems, but field position ain't one
OK, that was bad. I'm sorry for that.
Anyway, the Seahawks offense is all fired up on the sideline right now after they went 99 yards on 6 plays. The first play of the drive was a 53-yard completion down the sideline to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Five plays later, Justin Forsett rushed 11 yards for a score. That drive also featured the second completion of the day to rookie receiver Deon Butler, who we haven't seen much of this season.
It's 7-0 Seahawks at the end of the first quarter. Not bad considering they had been out-scored 55-16 in the first quarter this season coming into today's game.
That had to be a pretty devastating sequence for the Cards. They think they're about to score a touchdown, and instead, 99 yards later, they're down 7-0.
Apparently the folk here in Arizona are Houshmandzadeh fans too
Oh wait. Never mind, they're not saying Hooosh, they're just booing. And hard to blame them. The Cardinals, who are 4-0 on the road, are 1-3 at home and struggling again today. Arizona went three-and-out again, and so far has only two first downs this game, and one of those came by penalty.
Who are these guys and what have they done with the Seahawks?
Seattle is now up 14-0 with 8:29 left in the first half, the second score coming on a 31-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to wide-freakin'-open John Carlson. Pretty nice play call Greg Knapp drew up their on 3rd-and-one with the Cardinals loaded up against the run.
Cardinals answer with a touchdown
Jim Mora is a little heated right now following an Arizona touchdown, a 28-yard pass to Steve Breaston. Two plays before that, Marcus Trufant was called for pass interference when he and Larry Fitzgerald got tangled up, causing both to go to the ground. And while Trufant may not have deserved a call on that play, he was guilt two plays later of some pretty bad coverage as Breaston beat him for an easy touchdown.
Also, Josh Wilson suffered a head injury on the drive and his return is questionable.
Mare makes it 17-7
The Seahawks are now up 10 after a 32-yard field goal by Olindo Mare. Not a bad result for a drive that started with Hasselbeck getting sacked, putting the Seahawks in second-and-16 at their own 13-yard line.
Arizona will have 1:09 to try to cut into Seattle's lead before halftime.
Cardinals end half with a field goal, Seattle leads 17-10
A quick drive by Arizona led to a 27-yard Neil Rackers field goal, but overall the Seahawks have to be thrilled with that first half.
The Seahawks out-gained Arizona 267 to 185, had four more first downs (13 to 9), and most importantly, have the lead in the game they can't afford to lose.
Justin Forsett, filling in for the injured Julius Jones, already has career highs with 76 yards and 10 carries.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh also had a big first half, catching five passes for 98 yards. Matt Hasselbeck finished the half 14 for 24 for 174 yards and one touchdown.
And Josh Wilson was back on the field for that drive, so it appears he's OK.
Tie game
Arizona opened the second half with an 82-yard drive that was capped by a 10-yard Beanie Wells run on fourth-and-1.
It's now 17-17, and the Seahawks could certainly use a score on this possession to get back some momentum.
Seahawks driving at the end of the third quarter
Still 17-17 with one quarter to go. The Seahawks have a nice drive going, thanks in part to some Arizona penalties. The Cardinals had Seattle pinned deep, but offsides and facemask calls on back-to-back plays got the drive moving for Seattle, and now Justin Forsett and Louis Rankin are moving the ball well for the Seahawks, who are at the Arizona 24-yard line with a fresh set of downs.
Seahawks take a three-point lead
Seattle is on top 20-17, but has to feel like an opportunity got away there. The Seahawks had first-and-goal from the 1 after pass interference was called on a ball thrown to TJ Houshmandzadeh in the end zone. But after an incomplete pass, a run for minus-one yard and another incompletion, they had to settle for a 20-yard field goal.
On the other hand, they may not have gotten anything out of that drive had Arizona not contributed 40 yards worth of penalties to the cause.
Cardinals take the lead
Beanie Wells just scored on a 13-yard run, and the extra point made it 24-17 with 11:20 left to play. This is the first time today that Arizona has led.
Hawks in trouble now
The Seahawks needed a stop there, but instead yielded a 6-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that put the Cardinals up 31-20. Seattle has managed just a field goal so far this half, but will need to find a way to score twice in the next 6:11 if it wants to win this game and keep its playoff hopes alive.
This game, and the Seahawks' playoff hopes, are just about over
Needing two scores, the Seahawks were driving, but Hasselbeck was just picked by Antrel Rolle. That should put the proverbial fork in both this game and the Seahawks hopes at getting back into the division race.
The loss will make the Seahawks 3-6, three games behind the Cardinals. Call me a pessimist, but I don't like their chances.
Tough, tough loss for Seattle. The Seahawks led 14-0 at one point, but couldn't repeat their first-half success on offense or defense in the second half.
OK, now it's over
The Seahawks looked like they might make a game of it yet, putting together a drive that got them to the Arizona 3-yard line, but Hasselbeck was intercepted after he bobbled a snap and tried to get the ball to Justin Forsett.
Arizona can kneel out the clock now, and the final will be 31-20.
Seattle won the toss and will start with the ball. The Seahawks have started games terribly this season, so getting points out of this drive would be huge.
A better start so far
Seattle is driving, and is two-for-two on third down after going 0-for-11 against the Cardinals in their last meeting.
Also, Julius Jones has 10 yards on two carries. The Seahawks managed just 14 rushing yards, a franchise low, against Arizona last month.
Hawks punt, but get it right back
Matt Hasselbeck was sacked, setting up a drive-killing 3rd-and-19. Greg Knapp tried to channel Mike Holmgren there with a 3rd-and-long draw, but Justin Forsett came up five yards short.
The good news for Seattle, however, is that they forced a three-and-out, and are about to start with the ball at their 27-yard line. Not quite the fast start Seattle wanted, but definitely not the disaster they had last week against Detroit and last month against Arizona, when they were down 14-0 before the offense took the field.
More punting, Jones injured
Since I last checked in, the Seahawks had a three-and-out, then Arizona was stopped after picking up one first down. Ben Graham's punt was downed at the one as Nate Burleson did his best Justin Forsett impression by making a bad decision on a punt (in this case letting it bounce around the 12-yard line.
And speaking of Forsett, he's on the field to start this series. It was just announced in the press box that Julius Jones has a chest injury and his return is questionable. If he can't return, that will mean some carries for Louis Rankin today.
Seahawks go three-and-out again
Yet so far, this quarter has been an big success for the Seahawks. I mean they haven't turned it over, they're not down 17-0. Three punts and two first downs? Great success.
That could change soon though; the Cardinals will start this drive at their 46-yard line.
And speaking of punting. . . one of the many strange things I heard out of Tyrone Willingham in two years of covering the Huskies was that he was looking forward to seeing some "Exciting punting" out of UW punter Jared Ballman, who was struggling at the time. Well if Willingham is a fan of exciting punting, I hope he's watching this game with five punts in the first quarter so far.
Seahawks get the ball back. . . No they don't. . . Wait, yes they do
After a pass interference call on Josh Wilson gave the Cardinals first-and-goal, it looked like Arizona was poised to take the lead, but the defense, which thought it had a turnover, came through instead with a fourth-down stop.
Kurt Warner threw a pass in the end zone that was initially ruled a Marcus Trufant interception, but overturned. On fourth-and-goal from the one, the Cardinals went for it, and Marcus Trufant and Leroy Hill--both players who missed the last game against Arizona--teamed up for the stop.
Seahawks have 99 problems, but field position ain't one
OK, that was bad. I'm sorry for that.
Anyway, the Seahawks offense is all fired up on the sideline right now after they went 99 yards on 6 plays. The first play of the drive was a 53-yard completion down the sideline to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Five plays later, Justin Forsett rushed 11 yards for a score. That drive also featured the second completion of the day to rookie receiver Deon Butler, who we haven't seen much of this season.
It's 7-0 Seahawks at the end of the first quarter. Not bad considering they had been out-scored 55-16 in the first quarter this season coming into today's game.
That had to be a pretty devastating sequence for the Cards. They think they're about to score a touchdown, and instead, 99 yards later, they're down 7-0.
Apparently the folk here in Arizona are Houshmandzadeh fans too
Oh wait. Never mind, they're not saying Hooosh, they're just booing. And hard to blame them. The Cardinals, who are 4-0 on the road, are 1-3 at home and struggling again today. Arizona went three-and-out again, and so far has only two first downs this game, and one of those came by penalty.
Who are these guys and what have they done with the Seahawks?
Seattle is now up 14-0 with 8:29 left in the first half, the second score coming on a 31-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to wide-freakin'-open John Carlson. Pretty nice play call Greg Knapp drew up their on 3rd-and-one with the Cardinals loaded up against the run.
Cardinals answer with a touchdown
Jim Mora is a little heated right now following an Arizona touchdown, a 28-yard pass to Steve Breaston. Two plays before that, Marcus Trufant was called for pass interference when he and Larry Fitzgerald got tangled up, causing both to go to the ground. And while Trufant may not have deserved a call on that play, he was guilt two plays later of some pretty bad coverage as Breaston beat him for an easy touchdown.
Also, Josh Wilson suffered a head injury on the drive and his return is questionable.
Mare makes it 17-7
The Seahawks are now up 10 after a 32-yard field goal by Olindo Mare. Not a bad result for a drive that started with Hasselbeck getting sacked, putting the Seahawks in second-and-16 at their own 13-yard line.
Arizona will have 1:09 to try to cut into Seattle's lead before halftime.
Cardinals end half with a field goal, Seattle leads 17-10
A quick drive by Arizona led to a 27-yard Neil Rackers field goal, but overall the Seahawks have to be thrilled with that first half.
The Seahawks out-gained Arizona 267 to 185, had four more first downs (13 to 9), and most importantly, have the lead in the game they can't afford to lose.
Justin Forsett, filling in for the injured Julius Jones, already has career highs with 76 yards and 10 carries.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh also had a big first half, catching five passes for 98 yards. Matt Hasselbeck finished the half 14 for 24 for 174 yards and one touchdown.
And Josh Wilson was back on the field for that drive, so it appears he's OK.
Tie game
Arizona opened the second half with an 82-yard drive that was capped by a 10-yard Beanie Wells run on fourth-and-1.
It's now 17-17, and the Seahawks could certainly use a score on this possession to get back some momentum.
Seahawks driving at the end of the third quarter
Still 17-17 with one quarter to go. The Seahawks have a nice drive going, thanks in part to some Arizona penalties. The Cardinals had Seattle pinned deep, but offsides and facemask calls on back-to-back plays got the drive moving for Seattle, and now Justin Forsett and Louis Rankin are moving the ball well for the Seahawks, who are at the Arizona 24-yard line with a fresh set of downs.
Seahawks take a three-point lead
Seattle is on top 20-17, but has to feel like an opportunity got away there. The Seahawks had first-and-goal from the 1 after pass interference was called on a ball thrown to TJ Houshmandzadeh in the end zone. But after an incomplete pass, a run for minus-one yard and another incompletion, they had to settle for a 20-yard field goal.
On the other hand, they may not have gotten anything out of that drive had Arizona not contributed 40 yards worth of penalties to the cause.
Cardinals take the lead
Beanie Wells just scored on a 13-yard run, and the extra point made it 24-17 with 11:20 left to play. This is the first time today that Arizona has led.
Hawks in trouble now
The Seahawks needed a stop there, but instead yielded a 6-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that put the Cardinals up 31-20. Seattle has managed just a field goal so far this half, but will need to find a way to score twice in the next 6:11 if it wants to win this game and keep its playoff hopes alive.
This game, and the Seahawks' playoff hopes, are just about over
Needing two scores, the Seahawks were driving, but Hasselbeck was just picked by Antrel Rolle. That should put the proverbial fork in both this game and the Seahawks hopes at getting back into the division race.
The loss will make the Seahawks 3-6, three games behind the Cardinals. Call me a pessimist, but I don't like their chances.
Tough, tough loss for Seattle. The Seahawks led 14-0 at one point, but couldn't repeat their first-half success on offense or defense in the second half.
OK, now it's over
The Seahawks looked like they might make a game of it yet, putting together a drive that got them to the Arizona 3-yard line, but Hasselbeck was intercepted after he bobbled a snap and tried to get the ball to Justin Forsett.
Arizona can kneel out the clock now, and the final will be 31-20.
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